Hillier tenth at the Front Row Challenge, Knoxville next
ALK Promotions, August 5Chad Hillier is going into this week’s Knoxville Nationals this week on a strong note, posting a 10th place finish in the famed Front Row Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway.Driving the DIRT Inc. No. 5c Maxim sponsored by Jansma Construction, Wink Dog Motorsports and Fast Wings, Hillier was among the 30 drivers to take part in promoter Terry McCarl’s popular un-sanctioned event at the Oskaloosa ½-mile oval. For those unfamiliar with the Front Row Challenge, it’s best known as a $5,000-to-win event with a big monkey wrench thrown in.The pole-sitter for the A-Main has the option of going to the back of the 24-car field, and if that driver wins, it’s a $50,000 payday. For the record, this year Mark Dobmeier had first dibs on taking the challenge. He declined, but outside pole-sitter Joey Saldana pleased the crowd by accepting the Front Row Challenge. Like all those before him, his valiant effort failed.Hillier, meanwhile, started off the evening by qualifying 11th with a time of 16.132 seconds, putting him in the second heat race. Hillier started third and finished fifth, which even though it didn't get him in the "King of the Hill" match-race tournament to determine who gets on the front row, it was still good enough to secure him the tenth starting position in the A-Main event. He ended up finishing where he started, earning another top ten finish after posting two with the Advanced Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series last week.Hillier currently sits 16th in the World of Outlaws standings and has four top ten finishes this season. After his two top-10 finishes in mid-week shows, Hillier made two more A-Features in as many nights in Wisconsin. Hillier posted an 18th place finish on Friday at Wilmot Speedway before having a slightly better night at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam the next day.Chad’s Saturday night started with a 14th-quick qualifying efforts out of 33 cars, timing in at 11.937 seconds around the 1/3-mile clay oval. Running the second heat race, Chad finished third to qualify for the 40-lap A-Feature event, where he started 14th. Hillier finished 13th for his third top-15 effort in four nights with the Advanced Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. Hillier earned another $1,100 dollars for his efforts on Saturday night.Next for Chad Hillier is the world’s biggest sprint car event, the 48th Annual SuperClean Knoxville Nationals presented by Lucas Oil. With a split field for the first two preliminary nights, Hillier will be in the Wednesday group with the likes of Steve Kinser, Jonathan Allard and two-time defending Nationals winner and World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz. Just getting into the A-Main event on Saturday will be a major accomplishment, but like everyone else Hillier will have his work cut out for him if he wants to get there.When Hillier last visited Knoxville, he had finishes of 17th and 19th in a field of about 50 cars. This week, there will be more than 100 drivers competing and tens of thousands of people will converge upon Knoxville, Iowa. More than $900,000 in prize money will be on the line, including $150,000 to win Saturday’s A-Main event. The A-Main itself pays $7,000 just to start.DIRT Inc. is currently seeking companies that are interested in advertising and being part of the team as they race across the nation, coast to coast, and onto your television screen. Interested parties can contact Team Owner Dave DeWitt at [email protected], 425-308-8658, or 19916 Old Owen Road, #100, Monroe, WA 98272.
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Chad Hillier’s sponsors
Jansma Construction
Wink Dog Motorsports
Maxim Chassis
Fast Wings
Weld Racing
Pro Shocks
Butler Built
DMI (Diversified Machine Inc.)
Brown & Miller Racing Solutions
Bell Racing
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Chad Hillier: http://www.chadhillier.comDIRT Inc.: http://www.dirt-inc.com
Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Series: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com
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